If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You have to register
before you can post. To do so, click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Please do not post any copyrighted images or content without permission from the owner of those images or content. If you are unsure if an image or content is copyright protected, do not post it. When posting images from Google's image search, be sure to utilize the ability to filter by Usage Rights. This is located under Tools > Usage Rights. Any materials that infringe on any owner's Intellectual Property rights will be promptly removed.

To me, he still looks very raw.
And I think there will always be pressure to develop, and develop quickly, when you are a first round pick.

And by take our time, I mean, potentially 4 years, plus 1 in the AHL. (McDonagh was 3 + 1/2 in AHL, for comparison)

Pressure can be managed with good mgmt. The pressure picks up once mgmt handles expectations poorly and doesn't put a wet blanket on any hype.

Josh, times they are a changing. No reason to think talented fast physical 1st rounders need five years before being able to break into the league. Even raw defenders... and he is not raw or immature in a number of areas. He'll have no problem with the speed of the game or the size, something a lot of kids can't say.

My "concern" with Miller is he is an athlete first, hockey player second.

We need to be very careful and cognizant regarding his development, especially since he's only been playing defense the last few seasons. He could probably get by on athleticism, and be a solid bottom pair guy. Or he continues to develop (give him an extra season or 2), and he could develop into a #2. I don't want to see the organization (or the player) feel pressured into getting him into the NHL 'ASAP' and limit his potential.

That's actually part of why I like his upside so much. Imagine how much more he can grow focusing exclusively on hockey.

He's really a lot like Marc Staal, who was in the NHL 2 years after being drafted and only played a dozen games in the AHL.

i dont disagree with any of this, but therein lies my hesitation. He's got the size, can skate, and "he can bring the puck in the zone" so management throws him into the lineup, prematurely, when he has rounded out the rest of his game.

I want to see him be a great hockey player with amazing athleticism.
Not, an athlete playing hockey.

If there’s one takeaway from this article, it’s that Ty Smith and K’Andre Miller are both excellent players. Of the nine different ways we evaluated the prospects, Ty Smith was top-four in five of them. Miller was top-two in six categories, including every measure of offence and the top player in neutral zone defence.

Miller is an athlete first, but he seems to know how to use it already, and he's more productive offensively than he's getting credit for, based on this.

i dont disagree with any of this, but therein lies my hesitation. He's got the size, can skate, and "he can bring the puck in the zone" so management throws him into the lineup, prematurely, when he has rounded out the rest of his game.

I want to see him be a great hockey player with amazing athleticism.
Not, an athlete playing hockey.

He’s playing next season in college. They’ll probably re-evaluate him again afterwards regarding the future but nothing management or scouting has said about him indicates that they think he’s ready to compete yet or any time soon really.

If I can say anything about this whole rebuild so far it’s that the team seems to be completely dedicated to making sure they’re doing it correctly.

More likely he gives it 2 years in college, which could be for the best. Then he comes to camp to win a spot.

Who knows, but seems like if he leaves after 1, he'll need a year in Hartford anyway. He may need a little time in the A regardless.

You're probably right. When I thought more about what he would want to accomplish there, a few variables popped out.

He seems to have two sophomore D-men on the depth chart ahead of him, neither of them with his draft pedigree or likely upside. If he can somehow move quickly into the 1D slot and play for a good part of the season, that's a box to check. If he is somehow stuck behind them, it changes the timeline and perhaps even the desirability of being in Madison, 'cause he ain't there for a degree.

Wisconsin is currently ranked #14. If they continue to move up the pop charts and have an actual shot at a national championship this year or next, that is experience worth sticking around for, as is, in theory, a second season of Granato tutelage if the Rangers like his progress.

The short NCAA season has already been mentioned, but I imagine Miller is already penciled in for at least a couple of amateur or international tournaments. A key metric would be how many actual games he plays this year. A long Frozen Four would certainly help.

But I think the original point has some lingering merit, which is that if he absolutely destroys the Big 10 and NCAA this time around, some of those accomplishments will become redundant quickly. Reaching the NHL and a quicker payday are always forces that drive talented young players.

But again, Giac, you're probably right. Sure is a nice thing to even be able to speculate about.

You're probably right. When I thought more about what he would want to accomplish there, a few variables popped out.

He seems to have two sophomore D-men on the depth chart ahead of him, neither of them with his draft pedigree or likely upside. If he can somehow move quickly into the 1D slot and play for a good part of the season, that's a box to check. If he is somehow stuck behind them, it changes the timeline and perhaps even the desirability of being in Madison, 'cause he ain't there for a degree.

Wisconsin is currently ranked #14. If they continue to move up the pop charts and have an actual shot at a national championship this year or next, that is experience worth sticking around for, as is, in theory, a second season of Granato tutelage if the Rangers like his progress.

The short NCAA season has already been mentioned, but I imagine Miller is already penciled in for at least a couple of amateur or international tournaments. A key metric would be how many actual games he plays this year. A long Frozen Four would certainly help.

But I think the original point has some lingering merit, which is that if he absolutely destroys the Big 10 and NCAA this time around, some of those accomplishments will become redundant quickly. Reaching the NHL and a quicker payday are always forces that drive talented young players.

But again, Giac, you're probably right. Sure is a nice thing to even be able to speculate about.

I don’t like rushing players, particularly defensemen who take longer to develop. And a guy like him who started playing late in life (I believe that was his story, correct?) should play at the lower level as much as possible before coming up.

I don’t like rushing players, particularly defensemen who take longer to develop. And a guy like him who started playing late in life (I believe that was his story, correct?) should play at the lower level as much as possible before coming up.